PanimWorks: Southwest

There are two points that are key to my experience.  The first is the commitment of PanimWorks, Deer Hill, and the Navajo host families to service.  This experience has opened my eyes to new possibilities for world harmony through the act of cross cultural immersion.  The common goal of fixing a fence post or a French drain goes worlds beyond the project itself.  Multiple cultures working to accomplish a common simple goal can transfer to another simple goal like world peace.  Together we can help each other reach our individual goals.  We can coexist and keep our cultural identity.  The other main point is the openness to outsiders (myself included) displayed unabashedly by both the Navajo hosts and the Jews from PANIM.  I felt supported to sing or hum along to the traditional songs from the get go.  Both cultures exhibiting confidence and trust in the effectiveness of their respective faiths.  Neither culture is afraid to address the tragedies of their past, drawing parallels between them, nurturing empathy for each other.  A-ho, amen.

 - Nicolas, Group C Deer Hill Instructor

We had an outstanding sharing of cultures singing traditional songs at Gino & Molly’s.  A group of Navajo friends from another camp sang beautiful songs about rain, youth, and mother earth. Our group replied with a Hebrew song for water and another song that included dancing.  Our friends then sang a love song and we all danced together.  This magical exchange went well into the night.  It was quite touching.

Miles, Deer Hill Leader

As the sun slipped down the sky, streaking the Western horizon with orange, we left our dutch oven lasagna to finish cooking on the fire and gathered in rare clean tee shirts and skirts to welcome Shabbat. After the group posed for photos in front of the setting sun and our small tent village, the five participants who planned Shabbat services welcomed us into a circle. Incorporating melodies from all their denominations, we joined in song and prayer to welcome Shabbat. Outside, surrounded by wind and desert brush and the other elements, is how our ancestors lived and prayed. We belonged to a land as these people do here. We knew how to set up camp, how to find water, how to survive in the desert. Experiencing Shabbat out here reminded me of those natural roots in Judaism, roots we don’t often remember in our cities and houses.

After praying, we blessed the grape juice and the six-braided challah we prepared the day before with two Navajo woman who were making fry bread.  We sang and ate under the stars, relaxed the next day playing games, singing, eating, and napping. Shabbat at PanimWorks has been a true cultural exchange, between Jews and Navajo, Jewish participants with each other, and the desert southwest with us all.

-          Gila, Group C PANIM Instructor


 

I’ve never been much of an outdoorsy person but after this trip that has definitely changed.  I’ve learned to appreciate all that the world has to offer that I had never focused on before.  When we did work on the Navajo land I realized that each of us really was making a difference on this earth.  It made me feel good about myself.  I’m so glad I had this opportunity to connect with and improve the land.  I know that I will try my hardest to continue to help the land in my own community after I get home.  This has really been a life changing experience.

-          Sarah, Yardley, PA